Latch mechanism



D 3, 1968 E. A. ROLLOR, JR

LATCH MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 19, 1966 aw .v

ATTO/P/VEVS Dec. 3, 1968 E. A. ROLLOR, JR

LATCH MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 19, 1966 ATTOQ/VE V5"United States Patent 3,414,308 LATCH MECHANISM Edward A. Roller, Jr.,903 Wisteria Drive, Marietta, Ga. 30060 Filed Sept. 19, 1966, Ser. No.580,384 Claims. (Cl. 292-229) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A door latchmechanism adapted to fit into a V-shaped groove in the edge of a doorand including a housing slotted to receive a keeper. A swingable platecovers the slot and is keeper-actuated to engage and swing aspringretracted hooked-end bolt into engagement with the keeper. Aswingable catch means, biased to hold the bolt in latched position, isfreed by an axially movable knob spindle to release the latch.

This invention relates generally to latch mechanisms and moreparticularly to an easily installed latch mechanism.

Many prior art latch mechanisms are in use today to hold and lock doorsin a closed position. One of thepro'blems involved with these priorlatch mechanisms, however, is that special tools are necessary toinstall the mechanism, the mechanism must be disassembled during theinstallation thereof, and the mechanisms require a considerable amountof time and effort to align them.

The invention disclosed herein overcomes these problems by providing alatch mechanism which is easily installed without disassembly of themechanism and with a minimum of tools, those required usually beingavailable in the average dwelling. The invention further includes noprotruding parts to catch on clothing and other objects as the door isopened or closed and can be easily aligned without any major alterationof the space provided for the lock in the door. Moreover, the inventionis substantially burglar proof since the door cannot be opened bysliding the bolt into the door with a blade. The invention may beoperated simply by depressing the knob rather than rotating the knob asis required in the prior art and since no sliding bolt is usedtherewith, substantially no friction is encountered in the closing ofthe door as is usually the case in the prior art latch mechanisms usingthe sliding bolt.

The apparatus of the invention comprises generally a latch mechanismhaving a rotating bolt rather than a sliding bolt and a cover platewhich rotates into position as the bolt is opened to provide a flushsurface on the door when the latch mechanism is in released position. Apair of knobs is provided in the invention which are positioned oneither side of the door and are effective when pushed or pulled,depending on which direction the door opens, to open or unlatch thelatch mechanism so that the door may be opened. A locking means isprovided simply by twisting one of the door knobs so that the exteriordoor knob may be prevented from being depressed so as to open the door.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome more clearly understood upon consideration of the followingspecification and accompanying drawings wherein like characters ofreference designate corresponding parts throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of that embodiment of the inventionshown in FIG. 1 with one of the side plates thereof removed to show theinternal construction thereof;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of that embodiment of the inventionshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 in FIG. 2.

These figures and the following detailed description disclose onespecific embodiment of the invention, however, the inventive concept isnot limited thereto since it may be embodied in other equivalent forms.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the invention comprisesgenerally a central latch assembly 10', a pair of door knobs 11, a latchcover plate 12, and a keeper plate 60.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, it will be seen thatthe latch assembly 10 comprises generally a U-shaped housing 15 having aprimary portion 15a and a secondary portion 15b. The primary portion 15ahas a front base Wall 16 and a pair of rearwardly extending side walls18 integral therewith on either side thereof. The side walls 18 and thebase wall 16 taper inwardly toward the rear thereof at an angle ofapproximately 45". A pair of special walls 19 extend between the sidewalls 18 just inwardly of each end thereof and serve to support the sidewalls 18. A semicircular side plate 20 is attached to the outside ofeach of the side walls 18 with the flat edge 23 thereof being positionedjust rearwardly of the base wall 16 and serves to carry therebetweenjust rearwardly of the side walls 18 the secondary portion 15b of thehousing 15. One of the side Walls 18 has provided therein a cutout 24which extends from just inwardly of the rear edge of the portion 15aforwardly to the base wall 16 thereof and partially across the base wall16. A recess 25 extends inwardly from the rear portion of the other sidewall 18 and terminates just rearwardly of the base plate 16.

The portion 15b comprises generally a pair of triangularly shapedsupport plates 28 spaced apart by a plurality of spacers 29. The supportplates 28 are attached to the side plates 20 so that the tapering sidesthereof are aligned with the tapering edges of the portion 15a. Theforwardmost extending side of one of the support plates 28 is providedwith support stanchions 30 at each end thereof effective to carry apivot rod 31 therethrough in a rotatable manner. The forward extendingend of the other support plate 28 is provided with a pair of forwardlyextending support stanchions 32 which are effective to mount a pivot rod34 therebetween. Each of the side plates 28 is provided with a centrallylocated aperture 35 extending therethrough effective to rotatablyreceive the mounting pin 36 for carrying the door knobs 11 thereon.

An arcuate cover plate 38 is fixedly carried by arms 39 pivoted to theconnecting rod 31 so that the cover plate 38 will be rotatablypositioned within the housing 15 and extendable into the recess 24 so asto substantially cover the recess 24. A bolt 40 having an arcuateportion 41 and a mounting leg 42 is pivotably carried on mounting pin 44fixedly attached to the mounting leg 42, the mounting pin 44 beingpivotably carried in bearing blocks 45 mounted in appropriate recesses46 in the spacer walls 19. A connecting arm 48 is pinned to the mountingleg 42 and one of the support arms 39 so that the movement of the bolt40 and the cover plate 38 will be synchronized.

The outward movement of the cover plate 38 is limited by one of the sideplates 20 which contacts the inner edge of the cover plate 38 in itsextendedmost position. It will be seen that if the cover plate 38 isrotated inwardly, the connecting link 48 will in turn rotate the bolt 40outwardly so that the arcuate portion 41 thereof will be rotated intothe recess 24 in the housing 15.

A lock plate 50 is fixedly attached to the pin 34 extending between thesupports 32 so that the plate 50 is rotatable with the pin 34. A lockingrecess 51 is provided at the outer extending edge of the lock plate 50and is urged forwardly in the housing to engage the rear edge of thebolt 40 as it is pivoted into the recess 24. This maintains the bolt inextended position until the lock plate 50 is pivoted rearwardly torelease the bolt 40.

An actuator tab 52 is also fixedly attached to the pin 34 and iseffective when rotated to pivot the pin 34 and lock plate 50 rearwardlyto release the bolt 40 for retraction thereof. A spring 54 is attachedto one edge of the bolt 40 and is eifective to urge the bolt 40 towardretracted position at all times. Therefore, it can be seen that as soonas the lock plate 50 is rotated rearwardly the locking recess 51releases the rear of the bolt 40 and allows it to be retracted by thespring 54.

An actuator assembly 55 is carried by the mounting pin 36 between theplates 28 and is fixedly attached to the mounting pin 36 forlongitudinal movement therewith. The actuator assembly 55 comprisesgenerally a substantially triangular shaped mounting bracket 56 which isattached to the mounting pin 36 and has an actuator extension 58extending therefrom toward the actuator tab 52 and aligned therewith sothat when the mounting pin 36 is depressed or pulled, depending on whichside of the door the operator is standing, the actuator assembly 55 willbe displaced and the actuator extension 58 will contact the actuator tab52 associated with the lock plate 50 and pivot the actuator tab 52thereby pivoting the lock plate 50 rearwardly to release the bolt 40.

A spring 59 is mounted between the actuator assembly 55 and the rearside of the mounting plate 50 so that the mounting plate 50 is urgedforwardly at all times. This is effective to insure that the mountingplate 50 will engage the bolt 40 in its locking recess 51 and retain thebolt in its forward position until the actuator assembly 55 is displacedto pivot the locking plate 50 rearwardly.

A keeper plate 60 is attached to the inside surface of the door frame(not shown) and has a bumper 61 and an engaging recess 62. The keeperplate 60 is aligned on the door frame so that the bumper 61 engages thecover plate 38 and pivots it rearwardly as the door is closed. Thiscauses the bolt 40 to be pivoted forwardly to engage the recess 62 andhold the door closed, The lock plate 59 is pivoted forwardly so that thelocking recess 51 is engaged by the bolt 40 to lock it in place untilthe actuator tab 52 is pivoted to pivot the plate 50 rearwardly torelease the bolt 40 and allow the spring 54 to pivot the bolt 40rearwardly and the plate 38 forwardly as the door is opened.

The pin 36 includes a hollow tubular member 64 fixedly mounted in theactuator block 56 and a solid member 65 having an extension 66 thereoneffective to be rotatably received through the tubular member 64. Thesolid member 65 is held in place by a screw 68 threadedly engaging theextension 66 and received through a circumferentially extending elongateslot 69 appropriately located in the tubular member 64. This iseffective to preclude axial movement of the member 65 with respect tothe tubular member 64 yet permit limited rotary movement of the member65 with respect to the member 64.

Each of the side plates carries a circular shield 70 concentrically ofthe pin 36 and a lock member 71 is fixed within one of the shields 70around the solid member 65 of the pin 36. The lock member has a sectorshaped recess 72 connecting with a slot 74 through the member 71. Therecess 72 receives a lock pin 75 attached to the member 65 therein andas the member 65 is rotated the pin 75 can be selectively positionedwithin the recess 72 or within the slot 74. When the pin 75 is in therecess 72, the pin 36 cannot be moved axially to cause the plate 50 torelease the bolt for retraction. However, when the pin 75 is within theslot 74, the pin 36 can be moved axially to release the bolt 40.Therefore, when the pin 75 is within the recess 72 the door is lockedfrom the outside and when the pin is within the slot 74 the door can befreely opened from the outside or inside. By always locating the member65 on the inside of the door, it may be easily locked from within.

The outer extending end of the members 64 and 65 are threaded to receivethe knobs 11 thereon. It is to also be understood that a keyed lockcylinder may be used in the knob 11 on the outside of the door which canbe connected to the extension 66 to rotate the member 65 when a key isused.

The outer portion of the base Wall 16 has integrally formed thereon onthe rear side thereof a pair of bosses 78 which threadedly receive anadjustment bolt 7 9, through each.

To install the invention in a door, it is only necessary to saw aV-notch in the door in the approximate desired position of theinvention. The invention is then placed therein and the adjustmentscrews 79 used to properly locate the invention in the notch. Woodscrews 80 are then inserted through the holes 81 in the wall 16 andtightened down to hold the invention in place. The latch cover plate 12has a cutout 84 therein which corresponds to the cutout 24 and is placedover the front of the housing 15 to cover the screws 79 and 80. Thekeeper 60 is then attached to the door frame and aligned with the cutout24 so that it extends into the cutout 24 when the door is closed.

To open the door the doorknob 11 on the outside of the door is simplypushed or the door knob 11 on the inside of the door is pulled to openthe door. By selectively rotating the door knob 11 on the inside of thedoor, the invention can be locked to prevent the door from being openedfrom the outside thereof. When the latch is used on a bathroom orbedroom door, a small hole 85 is provided in the knob 11 on the outsideof the door. A small screwdriver or similar instrument can be insertedthrough the hole 85 and into the slot 86 in the end of the extension 66and the member 65 may thus be rotated to move the pin 75 to the unlockedposition. This permits access from the outside when the door isunintentionally locked from the inside as might happend with a smallchild.

The keeper 60 has two vertical slots through which wood screws areinserted and secured to the jamb. Changes in vertical alignment due tofoundation settling can be corrected easily by loosening the wood screwsand sliding the keeper up or down, since the keeper is not in a chiseledout slot. If wraping or settling causes the door and jamb to separate,the screws can be loosened and shim plates inserted behind the keeper.The keeper is mounted on the jamb so that it is in contact with themolding which forms a stop for the door.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherequivalent forms without departing from the scope thereof as defined inthe appended claims.

What is claimed as invention is:

1. A latch mechanism including a pair of handles for use in combinationwith a keeper to fixedly position a door with respect to a door frameincluding:

a housing including a first end, a second end and a front surface, saidfirst and second ends converging toward each other as said ends extendrearwardly from said front surface and being positionable in a notch insaid door, means carried by said housing effective to vertically andhorizontally position said housing in the notch;

a first rotatable member pivotally mounted in said housing about a firstaxis of rotation and effective to be engaged and rotated by said keeper;and

a second rotatable member pivotally mounted in said housing about asecond axis displaced from said first axis, said second rotatable memberbeing engageable by said first rotatable member and rotatable intolatching engagement with said keeper by said first rotatable member assaid keeper rotates said first rotatable member.

2. A latch mechanism as claimed in claim 1 further including:

locking means for selectively engaging said second rotatable member whensaid second rotatable member is engaging said keeper to selectivelypreclude disengagement of said second member from said keeper; and

releasing means operatively connected to said handles for selectivelydisengaging said locking means from said second member upon transverseaxial movement of said handles.

3. A latch mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing includesa recess in said front surface effective to receive said keeper therein,said first member being effective to cover said recess when said keeperis removed therefrom and effective to extend said second member intosaid recess as said first member is moved from said recess by saidkeeper.

4. A latch mechanism as claimed in claim 2 including means for urgingsaid locking means toward engagement with said second member.

5. A latch mechanism for use in combination with a keeper to fix a doorwith respect to a door frame includmg:

a housing having a first end, a second end, and a front surface, saidfirst and second ends converging toward each other as said ends extendrearwardly from said front surface, said ends effective to be positionedin a V-shaped notch in the door;

means carried by said housing for vertically and horizontallypositioning said housing in the notch;

a first rotatable member pivotally mounted in said housing about a firstaxis of rotation;

a. second rotatable member pivotally mounted in said housing about asecond axis of rotation and positioned to engage and operate said firstrotatable member, said second rotatable member being rotated in arotational direction causing the engaging portion thereof to move in adirection opposite from a latching part of said first rotatable member,said first rotational direction as each of said members is rotated, saidfirst rotatable member having an extended rotational position at whichsaid latching part engages said keeper to fix the position of said doorand a retracted rotational position at which said first member releasessaid keeper for the opening of said door;

means urging said first member toward said retracted position at alltimes; and,

means for selectively fixing said first member in said extendedposition.

6. In a latch mechanism; a keeper plate having a bumper defining oneside of a recess; and a latch assembly having a housing, a platepositioned in and substantially closing a slot in said housing andmovable inwardly relative to said housing, a bolt movable in response tomotion of said plate between a first position in which said bolt isretracted within said housing and a second position in which said boltextends fro-m said housing, and means for urging said bolt inwardlywithin said housing; said bumper and said plate being positioned so thatsaid bumper engages "and moves said plate when said bumper and saidplate are moved relative to each other, and said recess and said boltbeing positioned so that when said bolt is moved into its secondposition in response to motion of said plate caused by said bumperengaging said plate, said bolt is in said recess.

7. A latch mechanism comprising a housing defining a slot for receivinga keeper, an actuator rod extending through said housing, an actuatingmember in said housing pivotal about an axis generally perpendicular tosaid rod and into and out of said slot, a bolt in said housing pivotalabout a second axis generally perpendicular to said rod and into and outof said slot, said bolt being movable into said slot in response to themotion of said actuating member as said actuating member moves out ofsaid slot, and said actuating member being movable into said slot assaid bolt moves out of said slot.

8. The invention of claim 7, and further including means forcontinuously biasing said bolt out of said slot and into said housing.

9. The invention of claim 8, and further including locking means formaintaining said bolt in said slot, and means responsive to the movementof said actuator rod along its axis for disengaging said locking meansand allowing said bolt to withdraw from said slot.

10. The invention of claim 7, wherein said slot comprises an edgeopening in said housing and said actuating member is shaped to formextensions of the wall surfaces of the housing when said actuatingmember extends into said slot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 162,272 4/ 1875 Colby 292-192727,293 5/1903 Coin 292-336 2,107,300 2/1938 Kilpatrick 292-1922,821,849 2/ 1958 Schweitzer 292337 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,175,635 11/1958France.

RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner.

